(105 ILCS 5/10-20.14b, 5/10-22.21b, and admin code 23 part 1.540)

Students should not take medication during school hours or during school-related activities unless it is necessary for a student’s health and well-being. When a student’s licensed health care provider and parent/guardian believe that it is necessary for the student to take a medication during school hours or school-related activities, the parent/guardian must request that the school dispense the medication to the child and otherwise follow the District’s procedures on dispensing medication.

No School District employee shall administer to any student, or supervise a student’s self-administration of, any prescription or non-prescription medication until a completed and signed School Medication Authorization Form is submitted by the student’s parent/guardian.

No student shall possess or consume any prescription or non-prescription medication on school grounds or at a school-related function other than as provided for in this policy and its implementing procedures.

Nothing in this policy shall prohibit any school employee from providing emergency assistance to students,

including administering medication. The Building Principal shall include this policy in the Student Handbook and shall provide a copy to the parent(s)/guardians of student(s).

A student may possess an epinephrine auto-injector (EpiPen) and/or medication prescribed for asthma for immediate use at the student’s discretion, provided the student’s parent(s)/guardian(s) has completed and signed a school medication authorization form. The school district shall incur no liability, except for willful and wanton conduct, as a result of any injury arising from a student’s self-administration of medication or epinephrine auto-injector or the storage of any medication by school personnel.

Illinois law requires the school district to inform parent(s)/guardian(s) that it, and its employees and agents, incur no liability, except for willful and wanton conduct, as a result of any injury arising from a student’s self-administration of an epinephrine auto-injector and/or medication or the storage of any medication by school personnel.

A student’s parent/guardian must indemnify and hold harmless the school district and its employees and agents, against any claims, except a claim based on willful and wanton conduct, arising out of a student’s self-administration of an epinephrine auto-injector and/or medication, or the storage of the medication by school personnel.

Nothing in this policy shall prohibit any school employee from providing emergency assistance to students, including administering medication.

The Superintendent or designee shall implement 105 ILCS 5/22-30(f) and maintain a supply of undesignated epinephrine injectors in the name of the District and provide or administer them as necessary according to State law. Undesignated epinephrine injector means an epinephrine injector prescribed in the name of the District or one of its schools. A school nurse or trained personnel, as defined in State law, may administer an undesignated epinephrine injector to a person when they, in good faith, believe a person is having an anaphylactic reaction. Each building administrator and/or his or her corresponding school nurse shall maintain the names of trained personnel who have received a statement of certification pursuant to State law.

If your child needs to keep any medication (over-the-counter and/or prescribed) in school, the School Medication Authorization Form needs to be completed by a physician. Please refer to the Student Handbook for Health Policy on medication.

Child with asthma - If your child has asthma, in addition to the School Medication Authorization Form, the Asthma Action Plan is highly recommended to be in place in school. This helps to guide not only school nurses, but also other school staff in emergency situations. The Asthma Action Plan can be found HERE. 

Child with food allergies - If your child has food allergies and needs to keep epinephrine or antihistamine in school, in addition to the School Medication Authorization Form, the Anaphylaxis Action Plan is highly recommended to be placed in school. This helps to guide not only school nurses, but also other school staff in emergency situation. The Anaphylaxis Action Plan can be found HERE. 

Child with epilepsy - If your child has epilepsy, whether the child needs to keep any emergency medication in school or not, it is highly recommended to have the Epilepsy Action Plan placed in school. This helps to guide not only school nurses, but also other school staff in emergency situations. The Epilepsy Action Plan can be found HERE.